By Amah
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Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a sixth suspect linked to the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, where more than 40 worshippers were killed and dozens injured in one of Nigeria’s most shocking assaults on a place of worship.
Security sources identified the suspect as Sani Yusuf, described as a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). He was reportedly apprehended in the Iguosa community along the Powerline axis of Ovia North Local Government Area in Edo State after years on the run.
According to officials, Yusuf had been on the radar of security agencies since the Owo massacre. Shortly after the attack, he allegedly fled to Kano before relocating to Edo State, where he is said to have lived quietly in a rural settlement for nearly four years while evading capture.
“For nearly four years, he remained one of the most wanted fugitives in Nigeria,” a source disclosed, noting that his arrest followed sustained intelligence gathering and tracking by DSS operatives.
The suspect is alleged to have admitted involvement not only in the Owo church attack but also in other high-profile operations, including the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault that claimed the lives of five soldiers, the July 2022 attack on a military barracks in Suleja, Niger State, and multiple kidnapping operations across Kaduna State and surrounding areas.
Sources further revealed that Yusuf allegedly operated under senior ISWAP commanders, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested in 2024. The DSS is currently prosecuting five other suspects over the Owo church massacre — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47) — on terrorism-related charges.
Officials described Yusuf’s arrest as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to secure justice for victims of the Owo attack and dismantle terrorist networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“This arrest underscores the relentless campaign by the DSS in the fight against terrorism,” a security source said.
Troops neutralise 25 ISWAP fighters in Borno
In a related development, Nigerian troops backed by air assets have intensified operations against ISWAP strongholds in Borno State, neutralizing at least 25 militants in coordinated offensives.
Lt. Col. Sani Uba, spokesperson for the Theatre Command, said troops launched targeted operations in the Limankara and Kukawa areas of northeastern Borno. During the ensuing firefight, 15 militants were killed, while several others reportedly fled with injuries.
Aerial surveillance later tracked fleeing fighters on five motorcycles, leading to a precision airstrike that neutralized an additional 10 militants.
Military authorities said large defensive and logistics structures used by the group were destroyed during the operations. Two vehicles, multiple weapons, and significant quantities of ammunition were also recovered.
Nigeria has long battled insurgent violence in its northeast, particularly from ISWAP and Boko Haram, as well as armed criminal gangs operating in other regions. Security officials maintain that recent coordinated offensives reflect renewed momentum in degrading the operational capacity of terrorist groups and restoring stability in affected communities.
The twin developments — the arrest of a key suspect in the Owo massacre and fresh battlefield gains in Borno — signal intensified pressure on extremist networks, even as authorities acknowledge that the broader fight against terrorism remains an ongoing national challenge.
